In July the 2017 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Business Forum recognised the critical role of business in delivering on the promise of sustainable and inclusive development. In this article, we elaborate on the SDG business case, and how businesses can engage with the SDG framework; driving business growth and productivity, whilst contributing to the better world envisaged by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The RELX Group Environmental Challenge, with a $50,000 prize for the first place entry and a $25,000 prize for the second place entry, is awarded to projects that provide sustainable access to safe water where it is presently at risk and/or access to improved sanitation. This directly assists SDG 6.1 and 6.2 to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, for all. Find out more about the 2017 winners.

This article is taken from the series "The View From Here", in which farming women from around the world give an insight into rural life. From the challenges of making an income to support the family and local economy to dealing with extreme weather and untamed lands, these women give their unique perspective on working in a male-dominated industry. It helps to highlight the importance of SDG 5, Gender equality.

Businesses with a year-end of 31 March 2016 were the first ones required to publish their modern slavery and human trafficking statements to comply with the UK Modern Slavery Act. One year later, several reports have measured and scrutinised the quality of businesses' modern slavery statements.
SDG target 8.7 is to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.

In the UK, average income growth fell to just 0.7% in the year running up to the general election in June, research from think tank the Resolution Foundation has found. The data illustrates the challenges faced by target SDG 10.1 to progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.

Tourism and hospitality are labour intensive, with 8% of the global workforce employed in the sector. The critique of employment conditions in the sector is deeply rooted, low remuneration, anti-social hours, insecurity, limited access to training and poor career progression are charges regularly levelled at the industry. The World Responsible Tourism Awards showcases many examples of companies choosing to have inclusive labour practices.

The RELX Group Environmental Challenge is awarded to projects that provide sustainable access to safe water where it is presently at risk and/or access to improved sanitation. Projects must have clear practical applicability, address identified need, and advance related issues such as health, education, or human rights. There is a $50,000 prize for the first place entry and a $25,000 prize for the second place entry. This directly assists SDG 6.1 and 6.2 to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, for all.

At the heart of Responsible Tourism are commitments to transparency and accountability. It is a process of addressing the sustainability issues which arise in a particular place and which the business can do something about, materiality matters. But it is not enough to focus only on the process, it is important to report the achievement. This blog explores reporting frameworks, rating initiatives, certification, recognition and showcases best practice.

Gender InSITE is an international initiative to promote the role of women in science, innovation, technology and engineering - supporting the goal of SDG target 10, Reduced Inequalities. The Elsevier Foundation has been a long-time advisor and supporter of GenderInSITE, most recently providing a $40,000 grant for two thematic workshops in 2017: one addressing Latin America, exploring how a gender perspective in science education is indispensable to a sustainable development and the second in the South African region focusing on Gender and Innovation.

The burgeoning economy in Myanmar is creating much opportunity in the country but this is putting a strain on the judicial system which is trying to keep pace with development. The Juris Pilot addresses the need for greater knowledge of international contract law by training government legal staff. Sharing knowledge between professionals advances SDG 16.3 to promote the rule of law at the national and international levels.